Mangi, bevanda e sia allegro!

‘Sorrento Cheese Italian Festival’ spices up Hertel Avenue

by Joshua Maloni
July 21, 2006

Imagine what it would be like if your family and a few friends got together for a backyard cookout. Now, imagine what it would be like if your few friends turned into 500,000, your backyard stretched several Buffalo city blocks and your cookout featured food samples from nearly 50 local restaurants.

Welcome to the “Sorrento Chess Italian Festival” (“Il Festival Italiano Di Eredità”).

For four days each year, Hertel Avenue, between Virgil and Crestwood, turns into one giant family reunion, complete with Italian pasta and seafood dishes, desserts and entertainment. Friends gather together, families make a day out of it, and first dates are plentiful.

“Buffalo and Western New York love festivals,” says Steve Reszka, of the Reszka and Associates marketing firm, the public relations arm of the “Italian Festival.” “Our whole summer is one festival after another, and that’s the beauty of it.”

This year marks the “Italian Festival’s” 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, organizers have lined up top musical talent – including Buffalo natives Tony Galla and Bobby Militello, who will perform with their respective bands – the culinary expertise of Mary Ann Esposito, host of “Ciao Italia!” on PBS, and students from Torremaggiore, Italy, to serve as official event greeters.

“Every step we take to enhance the festival’s cultural aspect brings us closer to our true goal,” said Carmen Palma, president of the “Italian Heritage Festival” committee, in a release. “We want people to have fun and also learn about the invaluable contributions Italian-Americans have made to our country.”

Reszka agrees. He said each local festival provides a special look into the region’s various cultures. As for the Italian food and entertainment at the “Italian Heritage Festival,” Reszka says, “There’s nothing like it.”

‘Sorrento Cheese Italian Festival’ At-A-Glance:

Dates and Times:
July 13-16
Thursday –Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Festival Location:
Hertel Avenue between Virgil and Crestwood in Buffalo

Festival Proceeds:
The festival is a non-profit organization. In 2005, organizers donated $50,000
to benefit community organizations and fund college scholarships.

Festival History:
1930s – ’60s – Held at St. Anthony’s Church in Buffalo
1975 – Festival re-started on Connecticut Street
1988 – Moved to Hertel Avenue

Organizers:
Hertel-North Buffalo Business Association
North Buffalo Community Development Corporation
West Side Business and Taxpayers’ Association
Sorrento Cheese

Committee Officers:
Carmen Palma, president and Randy Paul, vice president

2006 Vendors:
Approximately 120

2005 Attendance:
500,000 (est.)

Headline Entertainment:
Friday 8:30 p.m.: Tony Galla
Saturday 7 p.m.: Street Dance
Sunday 8:30 p.m.: Junction West

The “Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival” takes place this weekend
along Hertel Avenue in Buffalo. (photo by Joshua Maloni)

Fast Facts:

•For the eighth consecutive year, Sorrento Cheese is proud to sponsor the “Italian Heritage Festival” in its hometown of Buffalo. It is one of a dozen Italian festivals throughout the United States that Sorrento sponsors with the goal of promoting Italian culture and preserving historic Italian neighborhoods.

Sorrento’s ties with Western New York began in 1947 when Louis Russo joined with two partners to form the Sorrento Cheese Company in Blasdell. Together, they made soft Italian cheese in the proud family tradition that Louis had brought with him from his birthplace of Sorrento, Italy.

In 1960, the business moved to its present location in South Buffalo and continued to expand, including cheese-making and distribution facilities across the United States.

•For the first time, the “Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival” will feature a cooking stage on Friday night and Saturday with national and local chefs sharing their secrets. Highlighting the list of chefs will be Buffalo native Mary Ann Esposito, host of the longest-running cooking show in America, “Ciao Italia!” on PBS. On Friday night at 6 p.m., Mary Ann will make several of her amazing recipes, answer questions and autograph copies of her new book, “Ciao Italia Pronto.” On Saturday at 3 p.m., Mary Ann will do a lecture and book signing. Local chefs will also do cooking demonstrations throughout the day on the stage located between Commonwealth and Crestwood (next to Filippo’s Ristorante).

•Metro will provide special shuttle trolley service during this year’s “Italian Heritage Festival.” The festival shuttle will operate along Hertel Avenue from the Park and Ride lot at Metro’s LaSalle rail station and Niagara Street.

The shuttle will leave the LaSalle rail station every two hours starting at 11 a.m. with the last trolley leaving at 10 p.m. each night. The first trolley leaves the Marina Vista Apartments at Niagara Street at noon, with the last trolley leaving for the LaSalle Station at 11 p.m. All regular Metro fares apply.